Outreach in Action
Cultivating Kansas's scientific future (and the world's!)
Our department is dedicated to more than just groundbreaking research and classroom instruction. We are deeply committed to fostering the next generation of scientific minds, both on campus and across Kansas. Through an array of outreach activities, we continue our efforts to increase awareness of and participation in physics and STEM, actively working to inform and inspire the young minds who will one day reshape our world. Below are some of the exciting ways we're making physics accessible, engaging, and fun for students of all ages.
K-State Open House has been a huge hit! Visitors in April 2024 and 2025 experienced interactive experiments on motion, sound, and light, plus a captivating physics demonstration show by Emeritus Distinguished Professor Chris Sorensen. It was a fantastic day of discovery for all ages!
Cardwell Hall was filled with laughter and learning last July during Grandparents University, a special event put on by the College of Education and Alumni Association. Among the many exciting activities, one moment truly stood out as a brave grandparent allowed a physics professor to place a cinderblock on their grandchild's stomach and smash it with a sledgehammer! Thanks to the power of Newton's First Law of Motion, the student emerged completely unharmed, returning safely to their delighted grandparents with an incredible story to tell.
Graduate students Adil Hussain and James Natoli hit the road last summer for Colby's Rocks & Rockets event, a wonderful free and family-friendly day of science! They captivated young minds with hands-on physics, demonstrating concepts using a fire extinguisher rocket cart and a bicycle wheel gyroscope. Events like this are a fantastic way for our students to inspire curiosity and showcase the exciting side of physics! Organized annually by Sara Lamm, sister to our physics alumnus Hank Lamm (BS '11), Rocks & Rockets is a wonderful initiative that connects young minds with the world of science. We loved seeing so many smiles and curious faces and look forward to our return this year!
We had a stellar time celebrating International Observe the Moon Night in September at the Flint Hills Discovery Center! Our physics faculty and students teamed up with astronomers from Kansas Astronomical Observers to share fascinating insights into lunar science and exploration. Highlights of the evening included an inflatable planetarium, an exciting telescope giveaway, and, of course, breathtaking views of the Moon itself. It was a truly engaging night designed to inspire curiosity about our nearest celestial neighbor!
We welcomed area high school students for a special day of STEM exploration in the department in September. In conjunction with our Peterson Lecture, students heard from MIT Dean Nergis Mavalvala, a pioneer in gravitational wave detection with LIGO. They also toured STEM departments, enjoyed front-row seats to her lecture, and even had lunch with Dr. Mavalvala to ask about college, careers, and the Nobel Prize. An inspiring day for future scientists!
In October, we had a blast teaming up with home-school students from Fort Riley for an "egg-cellent" Egg Drop Challenge! Students put their physics and engineering skills to the test, designing and building protective devices. This hands-on project beautifully demonstrated the principles of force, impulse, and energy conservation – and yes, there were plenty of laughs (and a few cracked eggs!) along the way. What a fun way to learn physics in action!
We teamed up with the Math department again this January to host our annual joint Kansas Scholastic Chess Association (KSCA) and United States Chess Federation (USCF) tournament! It was a fantastic event, drawing students from kindergarten through 12th grade for the scholastic competition. Plus, our USCF sections offered something for everyone, with an open category and a dedicated section for players with a skill rating under 1400. A huge thank you goes to graduate student Eric Mullins from our department and Professor Gabe Kerr from KSU Mathematics, who spearheaded the efforts to make this tournament a reality. Physics machinist Andy Thurlow helped Eric a terrific set of medals for participants using his 3D-printers. We're already looking forward to next year's event!
Students at Wamego, Manhattan, and Ogden schools experienced the excitement of physics firsthand during special events designed to inspire their curiosity. These events always prove to be a huge success, offering a fantastic chance for students to engage with hands-on activities, explore a wealth of resources, and learn about the diverse and thrilling career possibilities within physics and the broader fields of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
Students from Southeast of Saline high school enjoyed their incredible opportunity to explore the world of physics here at K-State! Their teacher, alumnus Josh Nelson (BS '16), who teaches physics, pre-calculus, and calculus, brought them to campus to give them a real-world look at the James R. Macdonald Laboratory, where Nelson conducted research during his undergraduate years, as well as other department labs. Beyond the educational tours, they enjoyed campus life with lunch, a scoop (or two!) of Call Hall ice cream, and a visit to the nuclear reactor. Experiences like these are invaluable for sparking future STEM careers!
Very recently, we hosted a session aimed to spark their curiosity about the world of physics and STEM as part of Kansas 4-H Discovery Days. This annual on-campus event provides youth aged 13-18 a variety of educational sessions, social events, and opportunities to explore potential college and career paths.
Our department's outreach efforts continue to benefit from the extraordinary efforts of university distinguished professor Bharat Ratra. Bharat is a tireless advocate for science education, regularly delivering engaging talks on dark energy to audiences locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. His expertise and captivating presentations have been in even higher demand since he was awarded the prestigious APS Lilienfeld Prize in January. Most recently, he captivated an audience in Prague, where he was honored with an introduction by the Cultural Attaché at the U.S. Embassy. We're incredibly proud of Bharat’s dedication to sharing cutting-edge science with the world!
We in K-State Physics remain steadfast in our mission to let the general public share in our joy of physics, despite its reputation for difficulty. These outreach events prove that physics can be incredibly fun and rewarding. We will continue these efforts to spark curiosity and show others that the exciting world of physics is within their grasp.